Third Circuit Flips Conservative — Today’s (March 12) Senate confirmation of Paul Matey gives The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit a 7-6 Republican-appointed majority.
The vote to confirm Matey was 54-45 on party lines.
The Third Circuit hears appeals for all U.S. District courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the Virgin Islands.
Matey replaces Julio Fuentes, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1999 and went on senior status in 2016.
Trump had already appointed Stephanos Bibas and David Porter to the bench.
The vacancy caused by Obama-appointee Thomas Vanaskie going on senior status in November remains.